Coating system and method

ABSTRACT

A coating machine and method coat a viscous sticky coating onto a plurality of food products. The coating machine may used mechanical or ultrasonic mechanisms to remove the excess viscous sticky coating. The coating machine may also coat an outer surface of the viscous sticky coating.

PRIORITY CLAIMS/RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 USC 120 and 121 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/118,486filed Dec. 10, 2020, that in turn claims the benefit of and priorityunder 119(e) and 120 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.62/974,440, filed Dec. 10, 2019, and entitled “Coating System andMethod”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a device and method for coating a surface ofan object and in particular to preparing a food product by coating thefood product with a viscous and sticky coating on an outside surface ofthe food product.

BACKGROUND

Enrobing machines exists that can coat an outer surface of a food itemwith a coating. These machines transport the food item through areservoir of the coating and under a waterfall style applicator and thenremoves the excess coating. These enrobing machines may either push thefood item through a tank with the coating material, impale each fooditems and run, typically on a belt, the food item past a coating stationor move the food items past a sprayer that coats the outer surface ofthe food item. These existing enrobing machines work quite well for acoating that is not too thick or sticky. If the coating is too thickand/or sticky, these enrobing machines often jam due to the thick and/orsticky coating and then have to be completely cleaned before restartingthe enrobing process.

Other times, the thick or sticky coating starts to harden which againcauses a jam in the enrobing machine. Thus, it is desirable to provide acoating machine that can coat viscous or sticky coatings onto food itemsand it is to this end that the disclosure is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a coater machine for applying a viscous coating to a foodproduct;

FIG. 2 illustrates one of a plurality of product flight carriers thatmay be part of the coater machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates more details of the coating machine in FIG. 1 andshows a spacing of the plurality of product flight carriers in oneembodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates more details of the carrier dogs that may be part ofthe coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates more details of the placement of the plurality ofstriker plates that may be part of the coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates more details of each product carrier rail that may bepart of the coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 illustrates more details of the chain track that may be part ofthe coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 8 illustrates more details of a head portion that may be part ofthe coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 9 illustrates more details of an infeed end of the tank that may bepart of the coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 10 illustrates the tank side walls of the coating machine in FIG. 1that may be sloped;

FIG. 11 illustrates more details of a stripper plate assembly that maybe part of the coating machine in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 12 illustrates a method for coating a food product with a viscouscoating; and

FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded assembly diagram of the coater machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS

The disclosure is particularly applicable to a coating machine that maybe used to coat a plurality of food products, such as protein bites,with a rice based syrup that is viscous and sticky and then stick one ormore different outer coatings, such as different nuts, to the coatedfood product and it is in this context that the disclosure will bedescribed. It will be appreciated, however, that the coating machine andmethod has greater utility since the coating machine can be used to coatany viscous coating or any sticky coating onto any food product and mayor may not also stick an outer coating to the coated food product.

FIG. 1 shows a coater machine 100 for applying a viscous coating to afood product. In one example, the food product may be a plurality ofprotein food bites and the viscous coating may be rice syrup that iscoated onto the outer surface of the protein food bites in order toadhere outer food elements, such as different types of nuts, to theouter surface of the protein food bite. The machine 100 may also be usedto coat any type of food product with any type of viscous or sticky orthick coating. The machine 100 may have a frame 102 that rests on asurface. The frame 102 may support a tank 104 that has an amount ofcoating material, such as viscous rice syrup, in it when it is beingoperated to coat the outer surface of the food item. The frame 102 alsosupports a head portion 106 that rests above the tank 104 (shown in moredetail in FIG. 13 that is described below in more detail) and moves afood item, such as a plurality of individual food items, through thetank 104 to coat the outer surface of each food item with the coatingmaterial when the machine is operational. In an alternative embodiment,a height of the head portion 106 from the frame 102 may be adjustable.The machine 100 may be a pod that is moveable and can be moved intodifferent parts of the process. Once the machine 100 is positioned atthe appropriate position, the head portion 106 may be adjusted upwardsso that the machine 100 couples to a drive mechanism (including a motor)that then moves the product flight carriers, etc. The machine 100 alsohas a stripper plate 108 that is connected to the frame 102 and forcesexcess coating material off of the outer surface of each food item.

The machine 100 can evenly coat the outer surface of uniform shapedand/or irregularly sized food product and load each of the food itemsinto the machine 100 without lumping/clumping. The machine 100 isdesigned to maintain temperature for a given production rate byincluding a heater that maintains a predetermined temperature of thecoating material. The machine 100, during unloading of each food item,may remove excess coating material from the outer surface of the eachfood item using the stripper plate 108. In one embodiment shown in thefigures, the stripper plate 108 process is mechanical as shown in moredetail in FIG. 11 . Alternatively, the stripper plate 108 may include anultrasonic device that uses ultrasonic sound energy to quickly andeffectively remove the coating material from each food item for auniform coating before the narrow range for temperature closes and thecoating material sets up.

The head portion 106 of the machine 100 may further comprises aplurality of product flight carriers 110 that move using a chain drive(described below in more detail) to move the plurality of food itemsthrough the tank 104 to coat the outer surfaces of each food item. Themachine 100 may have a motor (not shown) that causes the chain drive,etc. to move the plurality of food items through the tank 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates one of a plurality of product flight carriers 110that may be part of the coater machine in FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 2 ,each product flight carrier may have a base portion 200 that may be madeof metal, such as aluminum, and may be round as shown in FIG. 2 ,although the base portion 200 may be made of other materials and may beof different shapes. Each longitudinal end of the base portion 200 (orat each opposite end of the base portion 200) may have a carrier dog202, 204 that removable connects to a chain drive (discussed below) sothat each individual product flight carrier 110 may be repaired, removedor replaced. For example, a product flight carrier 110 may becomedamages and need replacement or repair. As another example, toaccommodate larger individual food items, one or more of the productflight carrier 110 may be removed from the machine. Each product flightcarrier 110 may have a plurality of pins 206 that extend down from thebase portion 200 and are spaced apart from each other. The productflight carriers 110 are designed to help evenly distribute all of thefood items to pull each of the food items through the coating materialin the tank. In one embodiment, the pins 206 are spaced wide enoughapart to let the coating material flow through/around the pins butnarrow enough to capture the food items and to make the food itemstumble or roll that ensures even coating of the coating material and aidin the stripper plate process as described below. One skilled in the artwould understand that the pitch of the pins (distance between the pins)may be changed or a different product flight carrier 110 may be usedwith a different pitch of the pins for a different sized food item.

FIG. 3 illustrates more details of the coating machine in FIG. 1 andshows a spacing of the plurality of product flight carriers 110 in oneembodiment in the head portion 106 of the machine. The spacing of theproduct flight carriers 110 are to accommodate different productionrates but not make the machine too bulky. The spacing between theflights 110 are determined by the chain pin spacing on a chain track 300that forms a loop around the head portion 106. The spacings allow theproduct flight carriers 110 to be move by the chain track 300 andprevent the product flight carriers 110 from binding up at each strikerplate 302. The product flight carriers 110 are transported along thechain track 300 by the carrier dogs (shown in FIG. 2 ) located at eachend and hang on the chain pin. Each striker plate 302 maneuvers eachproduct flight carriers 110 at an input of the machine (on the left sideof FIG. 3 ) to direct the pins 206 away from the machine to be able topick up and move a plurality of pieces of food items through the tank ofcoating material (that is not shown in FIG. 3 .) For example, each pinmay have a 0.1875″ diameter with spacing at 0.700″ between each pin foran irregular shaped food ball of ¾″ to 1″ diameter. The size of each pinand the spacing between the pins can be adjusted for productrequirements and testing for optimum balance. Furthermore, each pin maybe a tapered pin or a triangular shaped pin. As another example, if thefood item being coated was 1¼″ to 1½″ in diameter, each pin may be0.250″ to 0.3125″ in diameter and the spacing between a pin and anadjacent pin may be 1⅛″.

FIG. 4 illustrates more details of the carrier dogs 202, 204 that may bepart of the coating machine in FIG. 1 with a partial cutaway view. Thecarrier dogs 202, 204 are designed for the simplicity of a simplemechanisms trigger point that works in conjunction with the chain track300, striker plates 302 and dog carrier rails. Each carrier dog 202, 204of each product flight carrier 110 (that each has the base portion 200)removable connects into a chain 400 that moves each product flightcarrier 110 along the chain track 300. The machine 100 allows for a verysanitary design inside the machine 100. Specifically, the open design ofthe head portion 106, etc. of the machine 100 allows for easy access towash the machine 100 with visual inspection. Furthermore, the pieces ofthe machine 100 incorporate no seams for hidden debris. In addition,because of head portion 106 is removable, the machine 100 may include asimple lifting device on caster wheels to make the machine 100 moveableand the parts of the machine 100 can be easily broken down if requiredby individual production facility's sanitation procedures.

FIG. 5 illustrates more details of the placement of the plurality ofstriker plates that may be part of the coating machine in FIG. 1 and thehead portion 106 of the machine (and a cutaway view of the tank 104). Asillustrated and described above, the head portion has the plurality ofproduct flight carriers 110 on a chain track that move around themachine and through the tank 104 to move/roll/tumble the food items tocoat them with the coating material that is in the tank 104. Theplurality of product flight carriers 110 interact with strike plates indifferent ways along the chain track. In particular, the head portion106 may have one or more infeed striker plates 500 at the input side ofthe machine at which the uncoated food items are loaded into themachine. The one or more infeed striker plates 500 direct the productflight carriers 110 to pick up the food items. The head portion may alsohave one or more discharge striker plates 502 at an output end of themachine from which the coated food items exist the tank and the coatingmaterial and may be fed into one or more different modules for coatinganother food product, such as various types of nuts, etc., onto eachfood item that adhere to the sticky coating material. The one or moredischarge striker plates 502 ensure quick food items removal from eachproduct flight carrier 110 to eliminate the transfer of the coatingmaterial outside of the machine. As described above, the one or moredischarge striker plates 502 may mechanically remove the coatingmaterial from the each product flight carrier 110 or may use ultrasonicsto remove the coating material from the each product flight carrier 110.In the mechanical embodiment, the striker plate 502 may have scrappersor brushes and can also be designed with a pan for the pins to pass thruand can have hot water. In the ultrasonics embodiment, sound waves areused to displace the coating material from the pins. Various ultrasonicmechanisms may be used so that, for example, a Dukane ultrasonicscommercially available system may be used.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cutaway portion that shows more details of eachproduct carrier rail that may be part of the coating machine in FIG. 1 .In particular, a product carrier rail or rails 600 may be part of thechain track 300 described above and the product carrier rails 600provide support to the carrier dogs 202, 204 to keep the attachedproduct flight carriers 110 perpendicular to the tank for producttransport while the food items are in the tank 104 being coated. Astripper plate 602 is parallel to an output portion of the tank 104 andstrip the excess coating material from each food items and the pins 206.As shown in FIG. 6 , each pin 206 may have a predetermined gap betweenthe bottom of the pin and the bottom of the tank, that may be adjustedto maximize product movement that keeps the food items moving towardsthe discharge in the tank 104 and prevents a food item from remaining inthe tank. Then, the gap is ⅛″ (but may be adjusted) when the pin isadjacent the stripper plate 602. Depending on the particular food itembeing coated, the gap between the pin and bottom of the tank may beadjusted depending on the size of each food item.

FIG. 7 illustrates more details of the chain track 300 that may be partof the coating machine in FIG. 1 . The chain track 300 (and its productcarrier rails 600) are designed to assist in the movement of the productflight carriers 110 and the actuation of them with the carrier dogs202,204 and the one or more discharge striker plate(s) 502.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of and illustrates more details of a headportion 106 that may be part of the coating machine in FIG. 1 . The head106 is designed to be adjustable for spacing between a bottom of thepins 206A and the inside tank 104 bottom to accommodate different fooditem/product sizes and aid in the transportation of the product. Thespacing may be adjusted by the adjustable head leg 802 whose length isadjustable and then securely to the frame 102 and the head portion 106.The weight of the head portion 106 holds it down and the speciallyformed tank 104 has holes (shown in detail in FIG. 13 ) that the legspass thru and keeps it in position horizontally. As described above, thehorizontal position of the head portion 106 may be adjusted to connectthe machine 100 to the drive unit. The machine 100 is designed for easyand efficient sanitation so the head 106 is easily removable formaintenance and sanitation. A lifting lug 800 allows the head portion104 to be removed from the machine 100 without having to touch thecomponents of the machine that interact with the food items.

FIG. 9 illustrates more details of an infeed end of the tank that may bepart of the coating machine in FIG. 1 . The infeed end of the tank isdesigned to have a curve with a radius that allows the product fightcarriers 110 (and pins 206) to easily load the food items/product fortransportation (guided by the product carrier rails 600) thru thecoating material in the tank 104. As shown in FIG. 9 , each productcarrier 110 and its pins 206 are a large distance away from the innersurface of the tank bottom 104 initially so that food items may beloaded into the machine, the pins 206 become closer at the middle partof the curved region and then are very close to the bottom of the tankafter the curved region of the infeed end of the tank 104.

FIG. 10 illustrates the tank 104 side walls of the coating machine inFIG. 1 that may be sloped to aid in narrowing the space between theflight carrier pin 1002 at the end of the product flight carrier 110 andthe tank wall 104 while the product flight carrier 110 is in the tank104 moving food items through the coating material in the tank 104 thatis at a level 1000. The narrowing of the space between the flightcarrier pin 1002 at the end of the product flight carrier 110 and thetank wall 104 prevents food items from resting in that space, escapingfrom the sides of the carrier 110 and not being moved through thecoating material. As shown in FIG. 10 , the tank 104 may have a slopedportion 1004 that is angled inwards towards the end product flightcarrier pin 1002 wherein an upper portion of the tank 104 allows thechain 300, chain track 400 and the carrier dog 202, 204 to move withinthe tank 104 while minimizing the distance of the end pin 1002. Thisdesign allows the head 106 to be as close as possible without touchingthe coating material in the tank 104 and to aid in sanitation andcleaning of the material when needed since those components of the head106 do not come into contact with the coating material.

In an alternative embodiment, the tank 104 may be shallower on its sideand the pins 206 on the chain may be longer so that all of the chaintrack, striker plates and carrier rails could be moved out of theproduct zone and not get coated by the coating material during operationor to insure isolation of mechanical components and food product zonesthat may be determined by the individual food manufacturer.

FIG. 11 illustrates more details of a stripper plate assembly 602 thatmay be part of the coating machine in FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 11 , thestripper plate assembly 602 may be mounted to an upwardly slopingportion 1102 of the tank 104 adjacent the discharge of the machine 100.The stripper plate assembly 602 may be mechanical (and have a motor 1100that provides the energy) or ultrasonic and it may be used to remove anyexcess coating material from the food product items as they exist thedischarge of the machine 100. The stripper plate 602 movement along withthe product flight carriers 110 and pins 206 (along the product carrierrail 600) causes the food item product to tumble and roll to aid in thecoating material removal as soon as the food item product exits the bathotherwise the coating material will set up too fast and be difficult toremove.

In one embodiment, the mechanical stripper may be a mesh style (expandedmetal) grate (See FIG. 13 for example) mounted to the main stripperplate and the grating catches the food item, such as a ball, and withthe force of the pins pushing each food item, the food item begins toroll and the syrup will stick to the grate on its way up and out. Theultrasonic embodiment produces an ultra hi pitch vibration that isadjustable and because of the hi vibration the syrup is quickly removedand the tumbling with the stripper plate ensures even coverage andremoval.

The tank 104 may be heated and insulated so that the viscous coatingmaterial is at an optimal temperature for being coated onto the outersurfaces of the food product items. The heater may heat the viscouscoating material to the optimal temperature and the insulator maymaintain the heated viscous coating material at the optimal temperatureand reduce the amount of energy to heat the viscous coating material tothe optimal temperature. For example, the tank 104 may maintain thecoating material at a temperature of between 170-200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The tank 104 may also have a drain at a bottom of the tank (not shown)to be able to drain the coating material and thus aid in sanitation andmaintenance. Furthermore, the tank 104 and head 106 are easily separableso that the machine 100 is portable and the head 106 and tank 104 nesttogether for fast product change over with the quick insertion ofanother head and tank referenced as a “POD”. Furthermore, a plurality ofdifferent modules may be placed at the discharge to adhere other fooditems, such as nuts or other food items, to the outer surface of thefood item that is coated with the viscous coating material.

In some embodiments, at least the pins 206 and stripper plate may eachbe coated with Teflon or another non-sticking material so that thecoating material does not stick onto the pins when the pins are not inthe tank. In alternative embodiments, various other elements of the head106 may be coated with Teflon or another non-sticking material so thatthe viscous coating material does not stick to these elements for easiercleaning.

FIG. 12 illustrates a method 1200 for coating a food product with aviscous coating material. Once the machine is set up and the viscouscoating material is in the tank and has been heater to the optimalprocess temperature, the product(s), such as food items, may be placedinto the coating machine (1200). The plurality of products may be movedthrough the tank of heater viscous coating material (1202) using theproduct carriers and pins and the other elements of the machine. Themachine ensures that each product is evenly coated as described above.At a discharge of the machine, excess viscous coating material isremoved from each product (1204) such as by using the stripper describedabove. The method 1200 may include an optional process in which theouter surface of the coated products are coated with another foodproduct that adheres to the viscous coating material (1206). In oneembodiment, each product is a food bite and the other food product maybe a type of nut that is adhered to the food bite.

FIG. 13 is an exploded assembly diagram of the coating machine 100 thatshows the frame 102, tank 104 and head portions 106 as well as theproduct carrier rails 600 and the stripper plate 602 and the productflight carriers 110. FIG. 13 also shows that a right and left side ofthe head portion 106 has a side frame 1300 that is connected to the restof the head portion 106 once assembled. FIG. 13 also shows a set ofposts 1302 that are secured to the head portion 106 and pass through aset of holes 1304 in a side rail of the tank 104 and rest of a lowerportion when the machine 100 is assembled to keep the tank 104 and thehead portion properly aligned during the coating process. The posts 1302and holes 1304 however, allow the head portion 106 to be easily removedfrom the tank 104 for easy cleaning and maintenance.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been withreference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussionsabove are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure tothe precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen anddescribed in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure andits practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the artto best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

The system and method disclosed herein may be implemented via one ormore components, systems, servers, appliances, other subcomponents, ordistributed between such elements. When implemented as a system, suchsystems may include and/or involve, inter alia, components such assoftware modules, general-purpose CPU, RAM, etc. found ingeneral-purpose computers. In implementations where the innovationsreside on a server, such a server may include or involve components suchas CPU, RAM, etc., such as those found in general-purpose computers.

Additionally, the system and method herein may be achieved viaimplementations with disparate or entirely different software, hardwareand/or firmware components, beyond that set forth above. With regard tosuch other components (e.g., software, processing components, etc.)and/or computer-readable media associated with or embodying the presentinventions, for example, aspects of the innovations herein may beimplemented consistent with numerous general purpose or special purposecomputing systems or configurations. Various exemplary computingsystems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable foruse with the innovations herein may include, but are not limited to:software or other components within or embodied on personal computers,servers or server computing devices such as routing/connectivitycomponents, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, consumer electronicdevices, network PCs, other existing computer platforms, distributedcomputing environments that include one or more of the above systems ordevices, etc.

In some instances, aspects of the system and method may be achieved viaor performed by logic and/or logic instructions including programmodules, executed in association with such components or circuitry, forexample. In general, program modules may include routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasksor implement particular instructions herein. The inventions may also bepracticed in the context of distributed software, computer, or circuitsettings where circuitry is connected via communication buses, circuitryor links. In distributed settings, control/instructions may occur fromboth local and remote computer storage media including memory storagedevices.

The software, circuitry and components herein may also include and/orutilize one or more type of computer readable media. Computer readablemedia can be any available media that is resident on, associable with,or can be accessed by such circuits and/or computing components. By wayof example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprisecomputer storage media and communication media. Computer storage mediaincludes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information suchas computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM,ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other mediumwhich can be used to store the desired information and can accessed bycomputing component. Communication media may comprise computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and/or other components.Further, communication media may include wired media such as a wirednetwork or direct-wired connection, however no media of any such typeherein includes transitory media. Combinations of the any of the aboveare also included within the scope of computer readable media.

In the present description, the terms component, module, device, etc.may refer to any type of logical or functional software elements,circuits, blocks and/or processes that may be implemented in a varietyof ways. For example, the functions of various circuits and/or blockscan be combined with one another into any other number of modules. Eachmodule may even be implemented as a software program stored on atangible memory (e.g., random access memory, read only memory, CD-ROMmemory, hard disk drive, etc.) to be read by a central processing unitto implement the functions of the innovations herein. Or, the modulescan comprise programming instructions transmitted to a general-purposecomputer or to processing/graphics hardware via a transmission carrierwave. Also, the modules can be implemented as hardware logic circuitryimplementing the functions encompassed by the innovations herein.Finally, the modules can be implemented using special purposeinstructions (SIMD instructions), field programmable logic arrays or anymix thereof which provides the desired level performance and cost.

As disclosed herein, features consistent with the disclosure may beimplemented via computer-hardware, software, and/or firmware. Forexample, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be embodied invarious forms including, for example, a data processor, such as acomputer that also includes a database, digital electronic circuitry,firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Further, while some ofthe disclosed implementations describe specific hardware components,systems and methods consistent with the innovations herein may beimplemented with any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware.Moreover, the above-noted features and other aspects and principles ofthe innovations herein may be implemented in various environments. Suchenvironments and related applications may be specially constructed forperforming the various routines, processes and/or operations accordingto the invention or they may include a general-purpose computer orcomputing platform selectively activated or reconfigured by code toprovide the necessary functionality. The processes disclosed herein arenot inherently related to any particular computer, network,architecture, environment, or other apparatus, and may be implemented bya suitable combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Forexample, various general-purpose machines may be used with programswritten in accordance with teachings of the invention, or it may be moreconvenient to construct a specialized apparatus or system to perform therequired methods and techniques.

Aspects of the method and system described herein, such as the logic,may also be implemented as functionality programmed into any of avariety of circuitry, including programmable logic devices (“PLDs”),such as field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), programmable arraylogic (“PAL”) devices, electrically programmable logic and memorydevices and standard cell-based devices, as well as application specificintegrated circuits. Some other possibilities for implementing aspectsinclude: memory devices, microcontrollers with memory (such as EEPROM),embedded microprocessors, firmware, software, etc. Furthermore, aspectsmay be embodied in microprocessors having software-based circuitemulation, discrete logic (sequential and combinatorial), customdevices, fuzzy (neural) logic, quantum devices, and hybrids of any ofthe above device types. The underlying device technologies may beprovided in a variety of component types, e.g., metal-oxidesemiconductor field-effect transistor (“MOSFET”) technologies likecomplementary metal-oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”), bipolar technologieslike emitter-coupled logic (“ECL”), polymer technologies (e.g.,silicon-conjugated polymer and metal-conjugated polymer-metalstructures), mixed analog and digital, and so on.

It should also be noted that the various logic and/or functionsdisclosed herein may be enabled using any number of combinations ofhardware, firmware, and/or as data and/or instructions embodied invarious machine-readable or computer-readable media, in terms of theirbehavioral, register transfer, logic component, and/or othercharacteristics. Computer-readable media in which such formatted dataand/or instructions may be embodied include, but are not limited to,non-volatile storage media in various forms (e.g., optical, magnetic orsemiconductor storage media) though again does not include transitorymedia. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to beconstrued in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustivesense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.”Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural orsingular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,”“hereunder,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import refer to thisapplication as a whole and not to any particular portions of thisapplication. When the word “or” is used in reference to a list of two ormore items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of theword: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list.

Although certain presently preferred implementations of the inventionhave been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations andmodifications of the various implementations shown and described hereinmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limitedonly to the extent required by the applicable rules of law.

While the foregoing has been with reference to a particular embodimentof the disclosure, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes in this embodiment may be made without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine, comprising: a tank configured tocontain a volume of a coating material; a head portion having aplurality of product flight carriers configured to move a plurality ofpieces of food products through the tank to coat an outer surface ofeach food product with the coating material; a product flight rail on towhich each product flight carrier rests; and a stripper plate located inthe tank that causes the plurality of pieces of food products to tumbleand roll over the stripper plate as the product flight carriers push thepieces of food products to remove any excess coating material from theouter surface of each food product.
 2. The machine of claim 1, whereineach of the plurality of product flight carriers are movable through thetank via a chain disposed within a chain track, and wherein each productflight carrier comprises a set of carrier dogs providing a removableconnection of each product flight carrier to the chain.
 3. The machineof claim 1, wherein each product flight carrier is adjustable and movesthrough the tank within variable distances of a bottom of the tank. 4.The machine of claim 1, further comprising: a heater connected to any ofthe tank or the head portion to heat the coating material to apredetermined temperature, wherein the tank is insulated to maintain thecoating material at the predetermined temperature.
 5. The machine ofclaim 1, wherein each product flight carrier further comprises a baseportion and a plurality of pins that extend down from the base portion,the plurality of pins moving each of the food product pieces through thetank.
 6. The machine of claim 5, wherein each pin in the plurality ofpins is spaced apart from the other pins to ensure that any food productpiece is not left in the tank.
 7. The machine of claim 6, wherein thespacing of the plurality of pins is adjustable depending on a size ofeach food product piece being coated.
 8. The machine of claim 6, whereineach pin is coated with a non-stick material.
 9. The machine of claim 1,wherein each product flight carrier is moved through the tank outside ofa product zone including a region of the tank not including the coatingmaterial by the chain track along the product flight rail, wherein thestripper plate is configured to discharge each food product piece fromthe tank based on an interaction between a first carrier dog and acorresponding striker plate.
 10. The machine of claim 1, wherein thehead portion is removable from the tank for cleaning.
 11. The machine ofclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of interchangeable modules,wherein each module contains a different outer coating for the foodproduct that can be applied to each food product.
 12. The machine ofclaim 4, wherein the heater operates at a temperature less than 200degrees Fahrenheit.
 13. The machine of claim 1, wherein the stripperplate includes an ultrasonic device configured to remove the excesscoating material from any of the plurality of food products.